Council adopts ordinance to regulate mobile food vendors, limits temporary permits to six events per year

The Harahan City Council approved Ordinance 2025-3 on June 26 that establishes permitting, operational regulations, fees and enforcement procedures for mobile food vendors operating within city limits.

The ordinance defines a mobile food vendor as any person or entity that prepares and sells food or beverages from a movable vehicle or cart (trucks, trailers or other mobile facilities). Under the ordinance's amendments, temporary mobile food vendors may obtain permits for no more than six days or events per calendar year; the city removed a proposed annual permit fee and clarified fees for individual temporary permits. The ordinance also requires vendors to present Jefferson Parish and Harahan sales tax certificates as part of permitting.

Council members said the measure aims to protect existing brick-and-mortar restaurants while accommodating special events such as the farmers market and school fairs. Councilman Asbille told the council the limits are intended to prevent a mobile vendor from parking across from established businesses and competing unfairly; the ordinance includes provisions for special-event permits for community festivals and school functions.

The council also added language granting the Harahan regulatory court jurisdiction to enforce chapter 46 business-license and taxation provisions. The ordinance passed after amendments were approved; council members voted in favor of the final ordinance as amended.